Environmental Flows Workshop

The Digo Jal Bikas project partnered with the International Financial Corporation and USAID to host a workshop on the concept and the potential for application of environmental flows in Nepal. Environmental flows is broadly defined as describing the quantity, timing, and quality of water flows required to sustain freshwater and estuarine ecosystems and human livelihoods and well-being that depend on these ecosystems (Brisbane, 2007). Many presenters who shared their work in environmental flows from their respective organizations emphasized the urgency for policy makers to use environmental flows when considering water development projects in Nepal. Break-out sessions spurred group discussions on challenges and opportunities for integrating environmental flows into development schemes that policy makers produce.

The Environmental Flows workshop took place on August 22nd at the Yak & Yeti Hotel.

Attendees of the workshop pose for a photo.

Karolyn Upham (USAID Environment Specialist and Deputy Team Leader) shares her gratitude for the work many organizations are pursuing to center environmental flows in water development.

Dr. Luna Bharati (IWMI Principal Researcher) conveys in her presentation the urgent need to use environmental flows in water development projects.